The High Court of N’Djamena delivered its ruling today in a medical malpractice case involving a surgeon charged with involuntary manslaughter following the death of a 60-year-old patient during a surgical procedure.

During the trial, the defendant acknowledged the factual circumstances but denied any professional misconduct. The defense argued that the incident was an unavoidable complication—an inherent risk in all surgical procedures, even in advanced medical systems. The lawyer emphasized that the patient’s family had provided prior informed consent, documented through a signed liability waiver. The defense stressed the surgeon’s impeccable career and unwavering dedication, arguing that no criminal intent or negligence could be established.

The prosecution, in its closing arguments, called for the defendant’s acquittal. The prosecutor argued that no evidence in the case file supported allegations of intentional medical misconduct or clear negligence directly leading to the patient’s death. They cautioned that excessive legal scrutiny of medical acts could foster harmful distrust between healthcare providers and patients.

In its verdict, the court sided with the prosecution. The surgeon was cleared of all involuntary manslaughter charges and granted a full acquittal on the primary accusation. However, the court imposed a civil fine of 50,000 CFA francs, though the specific grounds for this financial penalty—potentially related to procedural costs or minor civil liability—were not detailed during the hearing.